London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1889

Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1889

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from complaints, was very large, viz., 2,612, of which
1,148 consisted of choked drains, which were cleansed
and repaired or re-constructed; a number in excess
of former years. Choked or broken water-closet pans
Teceived attention in 337 houses, and in nearly all cases were
caused by the filthy or careless habits of those using, or rather
misusing the closets. New traps were provided on 537
premises, the old bell traps, which are most inefficient, having
been removed, and sink-wastes, which were connected with
the drains, were disconnected on 428 premises, and 126 stack
pipes having a direct communication with the drains were cut
off. The number of houses and yards inspected was larger,
viz., 3,872, of which 506 were of yards newly paved or in
which the old paving was repaved, 632 in which the dust bins
were repaired or new ones provided, 561 in which leaky roofs
were repaired, and 2,132 where whitewashing, and certain
Tepairs were carried out. The number of defective watersupply
apparatus to closets requiring repair was, as usual, large,
as for no less than 1,027 was it necessary to serve notices. The
defects were not confined to the poorer houses, although they
occurred chiefly there; but as the number was smaller than in
1887 and 1888, I trust nuisances from this cause will diminish
in future, but, certainly, unless stronger flushing boxes and
apparatus than those lately employed are used, this is scarcely
to be expected. Means of obtaining water from the main
supply pipe to the house were provided in 145 instances by
means of a screw down tap, and a length of pipe
connected therewith, being attached to the main pipe. The
total number of nuisances removed during the year was 9,519,
against 9,268 in 1888.
The total number of houses inspected without complaint was
4,710, and on complaint 1,107. Nuisances were found on no less
than 3,337 houses, which were inspected without complaint,
many of these included better-class houses, which were
examined to ascertain the state of the drainage arrangements